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March 22nd 2006 at 9:14 am in If there’s one thing us humans can do, collectively, it must be fucking up this planet. The Register also reported it yesterday, and in case you missed it, the UN released a report on how recent human activity has messed-up the planet we live and depend on. To quote The Register:
As much as 80 per cent of Caribbean hard coral cover has vanished in the last 30 years. Large North Atlantic fish have endured a two-thirds drop in numbers. Up to around half of higher birds are threatened with extinction.Disturbingly, every year since the turn of the century 6m hectares of natural forest have been destroyed. The bulk – around 4m hectares – disappear annually from Africa, which can scarcely afford to lose what natural resources it does have.
Even where habitats are relatively intact in terms of sheer area, they are becoming fragmented. This puts huge pressure on their ability to support biodiversity.
Productive ecosystems are the foundation of human wellbeing, the authors say. A recent survey showed that 15 out of 24 markers of ecosystem health - from fishery stocks though to water supplies and atmospheric cleanliness - were in decline. In fact, overall demand for ecological resources outstrips supply by 20 per cent.
Alien species introductions brought about by human activity are bad news for biodiversity too. Since the opening of the Suez canal, some 300 species have invaded the Mediterranean from the Red Sea, out-competing natives that occupy a similar niche in the ecosystem.
The US presidents stance of ‘future technology will find solutions to these problems’ sucks major ass — obviously he’s saying “You let your kids worry about the fucked up planet. We are currently cashing in on it and whilst the pockets are filled you won’t hear us complaining.”.
Of course, it is not the US only: we are all to blame. But hey, in these selfish day-and-age who fucking cares about other things than themselves.
Sad, sad sad indeed…
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